Swimming Aids

ABSTRACT

The embodiments relate to a swimming aid in the form of an inflatable rash vest or rash guard, the rash guard including neckline, a front section and a back section which collectively substantially cover a person&#39;s torso. The front section and/or back section of the garment consists of an outer layer, and an inner layer. The inner layer is connected to the outer layer using a non-permeable barrier to the outer layer such that the inner layer forms a partially sealed chamber in the form of an inverted pocket.

FIELD

The embodiments described herein relate to swimming aids. In particular, the embodiments are concerned with swimming aids which resemble fashion garments and their associated parts.

BACKGROUND

For ease of reference only the embodiments will now be discussed in relation to swimming aids. However, this should not be seen as being limiting as aspects of the embodiments may have broader application to other types of inflatable devices such as buoyancy aids or personal floatation devices (PFD's).

Swimming aids are well known in the art. Lifejackets and life vests are common forms of buoyancy aids which are worn over a user's torso.

However, life jackets and life vests are bulky and are not suited to all water related activities. For example body boarding requires a person to lie flat on the board and is thus an example of an activity where conventional life jackets/vests are not suitable. Similarly, recreational swimmers engage in an activity where conventional life jackets, buoyancy aids and life vests are not suitable.

It would be useful if there could be provided a swimming aid which is non-bulky and non-obtrusive suitable for body boarders or others engaged in water recreational activities including recreational beach swimmers where such attributes are seen as desirable.

It would also be useful if such a swimming aid was in the form of a garment whose primary function when worn looks other than that of a buoyancy aid, lifejacket or vest. For example, a fashionable rash vest or rash top like garment with a hidden buoyancy function/communication capability.

An example of a prior art “vest like” garment is disclosed in GB 1515947. The garment in GB 1515947 is trunk (torso) fitting has two airtight layers and air inflation tube leading to the pocket formed between the two layers. The pocket has closed sides and top but is open at the bottom near the waist of the garment.

However, the existence of the inflation tube is unsightly as are the elasticated cuffs, neck fastening/sealing strap and crotch strap and hints at a buoyancy function of the garment. For particularly fashion conscious and/or impressionable wearers such as teenagers or recreational swimmers a suggestion of a safety device being worn is not particularly desirable. Thus conventional visible inflation tubes and visible one way valves pose a problem when trying to design an incognito buoyancy aid in the form of a fashionable swimming aid garment. In particular, the three dimensional nature of the one way valve's used with visible inflation tubes (such as a blow up life jackets, water wings and the like) makes disguising the nature of the garment problematic. In addition, the substantially three dimensional nature of the valve makes the valve uncomfortable to wear if pressed up on the skin on a tight fitting garment of when lying flat on a body board or surfboard.

It would therefore be useful to have a swimming aid garment which is of a simple construction and avoids most if not at least some of the above mentioned drawbacks.

It would also be useful to have a one way blow valve/blow tube of simple construction which overcomes the drawbacks with existing one way valves and which is relatively cheap and easy to manufacture.

All references, including and patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art applications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations thereof such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not to the exclusion of any other element, integers or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

It is an object of the embodiments herein described to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the embodiments herein described will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the embodiments described herein there is provided a garment including a neckline, a front section and a back section which substantially cover a person's torso, said front section and/or back section of the garment consisting of:

-   -   an outer layer, and     -   an inner layer connected using non permeable barrier to at least         a portion of the outer layer forming a partially sealed chamber         in the form of an inverted pocket.

In preferred embodiments the inner layer is connected to at least a portion of the outer layer of the front section of the garment.

In alternate embodiments the inner layer is connected to at least a portion of the outer layer of the front section and at least a portion of the back section of the garment.

In further preferred embodiments the inner layer is substantially the same shape as at least the top half of the outer layer.

More preferably, the inner layer extends from the neckline to substantially at least half the distance between the neckline and a bottom edge of the outer layer of the front section of the garment.

Preferably, the front section outer layer of the garment is made from resilient fabric. This property enables the user to stretch the fabric away from the body in order to cup or capture air between the outer layer of the garment and the water surface. The space between the inner layer and the outer layer forms an air pocket retaining the aforementioned captured/cupped air. The garment retains its original shape when the air pocket is empty. Preferably the outer layer is capable of stretching to retain 0.5-9 litres of trapped air within the air pocket. These air volumes are typically enough to ensure the person wearing the swimming aid remains floating on the surface of the water. As would be clear to a person skilled in the art, the volume of air captured and retained within the air pocket will vary with the size of the swimming aid itself and the size of the user. A small child would require a smaller amount of captured air to remain afloat than an adult male.

More preferably, the garment is made from spandex and/or a spandex blend, although other suitable fabrics may be used. In one embodiment the garment is made from a spandex/nylon blend. A spandex/nylon blend provides a garment that is quick drying, lightweight and flexible. It has water wicking properties which draw moisture away from the skin which helps to regulate body heat.

In a preferred embodiment the fabric is a sun protection fabric.

Preferably the fabric provides an ultra-violet protection factor (UPF) rating of between 15 and 50+. The UPF rating is an international rating for the sun protective textiles and measures the UV radiation transmittance of the fabric. The use of such fabrics provides additional protection to the wearer of the garment, particularly if they are exposed to conditions for an extended period of time.

More preferably, the inner layer is sealed to the front of the outer layer at or near to the side seams, shoulder seams and neckline. As would be clear to a person skilled in the art, the “shoulder seams” should be taken to mean any seam located over, near or around the shoulder area, regardless of whether the garment includes sleeves.

“Side seams” should be taken to mean any seam running vertically the length of the garment. In instances where the garment has a number of side seams on each side of the garment, the inner layer may be sealed at or near any of these seams.

The “neckline” should be taken to mean the area of fabric where the front and back sections of the garment meet at the top of the garment. While in preferred embodiments the inner layer is sealed to the outer layer at or near the neckline of the garment, it is envisaged that the seal may be in various locations in the approximate area. For example, the seal may be directly located underneath a collar portion of the garment, or it may be located a few inches down from the neckline area.

Even more preferably, the inner layer is sealed to the outer layer using an airtight and watertight seal. Preferably the seal is created using continuous or unbroken fabric welding.

In alternate embodiments, shoulder seams of the garment may remain unsealed. This allows the inner layer to extend to the back section of the garment, forming an extended air pocket in the back section of the garment at shoulder blade level. The extension of the air pocket to the rear of the garment provides additional support to the wearer around the back of the neck when inflated.

In further preferred embodiments, the garment includes and electronic location device.

Preferably the electronic location device is solar powered and includes a capacitor for energy storage.

In further embodiments, the garment may include conductive fibres throughout at least a portion of the garment.

The conductive fibres may have or produce a high electrical charge, providing energy to a capacitor or the like powering the electronic location/direction device.

More preferably, the device and capacitor are located within a seam of the garment.

The electronic location device is envisioned to transmit a one way “direction finding” communication signal continuously for a distance of at least 500 metres from the wearer. Such a signal being easily and readily monitored in all conditions (e.g night, day and poor visibility) by search and rescue authorities and other rescuers.

According to a further aspect of the embodiments described herein there is provided a garment including a front section and a back section which substantially cover a person's torso, said front section and/or back section of the garment consisting of:

-   -   an outer layer, and     -   an inner layer connected using non-permeable barrier to at last         a portion of the outer layer forming a partially sealed chamber         in the form of an inverted pocket; and wherein the garment is         fitted with an inflation means.

Preferably, the inflation means includes a one-way valve, two-way valve and/or a blow tube. More preferably, the inflation means includes a mouthpiece and a flexible blow tube.

The presence of the inflation means provides an alternate means for inflating the garment by air being blown through the valve/mouthpiece into the blow tube and into the inverted pocket. This mechanism is particularly useful if for any reason the wearer of the garment is unable to fill the inverted chamber with air using the stretchy front of the outer layer of the garment as a “cup and capture” device.

Preferably, that the garment contains a single valve/blow tube. The valve/blow tube consists of but not limited to a short one inch long mouthpiece inserted into the folded fabric of the inner layer. Such mouthpiece and fabric tube being approximately 6 mm in diameter. The mouthpiece forms the upper end of a fabric “tube” where such tube will typically be located at a point some 30-90 mm below and inside the garment neckline seam or collar and such fabric tube extend vertically downwards to approximately the level of the lower edge of the inner layer.

More preferably, the valve/blow tube is substantially concealed from the exterior of the garment.

More preferably, the valve/blow tube is mounted within the inner layer. In this configuration the valve/blow tube is invisible from the exterior of the garment. To access the valve/blow tube, the wearer simply reaches inside the neckline of the garment with fingers to draw the valve/blow tube mouthpiece directly into their mouth for inflation.

The concealment of the valve/blow tube within the garment is an important feature as it enables the garment to be worn as a fashion garment without advertising that it is additionally a safety floatation and communication device.

The positioning of this valve/blow tube at the position some 30-90 mm below the centre of the front neckline seam or collar allows the wearer to easily access the valve/blow tube to inflate the inverted air pocket without needing to stretch the neck out significantly or bend over. The wearer can simply access the valve/blow tube by reaching inside the neckline to locate the valve/blow tube.

In preferred embodiments the valve/blow tube is mounted within the inner layer of the inverted pocket using fabric welding.

Any suitable valve/mouthpiece may be used in the swimming aid provided they are able to be substantially concealed from view from the exterior of the garment.

In further variations, the garment of the embodiments described herein may have multiple chambers that are inflatable either by a one way valve/blow tube or by the cup and capture inflation technique described above. In some variations where there is more than one chamber, additional inner layers may be required.

In further embodiments the garment includes one or more gripping means along the bottom edge of the outer layer of the front section of the garment. This feature enables the user to easily grasp the correct layer of fabric in order to scoop the pocket to capture air and inflate the garment.

In still further embodiments the garment includes a weighted portion at or near the bottom edge of the outer layer of the front section of the garment. The weighted portion may be incorporated within the gripping means, or separate from the gripping means and acts to help keep the outer layer of the garment against the user's body to help retain air when floating on their back.

It is a feature of the embodiments described herein that a rescuer who for example swims out to two or possibly three swimmers in distress would ostensibly be able to reach them and pass his/her fingers to locate the concealed mouthpiece in each swimmers neckline and blow into the valve/blow tube to inflate the inner inverted pocket of each swimmers' garments thus enabling one sole rescuer to save 3 individuals all of whom would be floating safely without any energy of the rescuer until other rescue arrives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the embodiments described herein will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the garment in a preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the garment in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described in the current application relate to a swimming aid in the form of a garment. In one embodiment the garment is in the form of a fitting T shirt or vest similar to those currently marketed as rash vests or rash guard that are worn under wetsuits, or as a recreational swimmer for adults and children that are worn as a fashion item that covers a significant area of the body for further sun protection. The garment is designed to capture air in the inbuilt pocket(s), providing buoyancy or floatation for the wearer when the wearer is in the water.

Garment 100 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In a preferred form, the garment is made from a 83% nylon 17% Lycra® fabric.

In preferred embodiments the embodiments described herein are manufactured using a six panel construction as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. However, a standard 4 panel or other construction may also be used at the discretion of the designer. The six panel construction is preferred as it increases mobility which is particularly important when swimming or performing other water based activities.

Sewn seams 130 in garment 100 use flat lock stitching to provide strength and durability, as well as comfort to the wearer.

Garment 100 includes an inner inverted pocket 110 that is not visible externally. Lower edge 120 of pocket 110 as shown by dotted line is unsealed across the torso of garment 100, and the remaining edges 125 of pocket 110 shown with a solid line are sealed using water impermeable fabric welding to the front outer fabric layer 140.

Lower edge 120 may be located at any level across the lower half of the torso as indicated by arrow A.

In alternative embodiments inverted pocket 110 may be extended to cover a portion of the rear of the garment as indicated by the dotted line 180 in FIG. 2.

Preferably, inverted pocket edges 125 are sealed to outer front layer 140 using a fabric welding technique. The two layers of fabric are sealed together using heat and pressure to apply a thermoplastic coating between the fabric layers. Typical thermoplastic coatings that may be used include polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU) polythene fabric (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

Once welded together the seals are both air and water resistant, enabling air trapped within the inverted pocket 110 to be held in place, providing floatation to the wearer of the garment.

In use, garment 100 is designed to be worn when recreational swimming or performing other water sports. If the wearer finds themselves in a situation where they need extra buoyancy, inverted pocket 110 can be used to cup and capture and retain air in the front of garment 100. To capture air, the wearer simply pulls edge 160 of garment 100 up and away from their body, cupping the fabric above and then onto the water surface capturing 0.9-9.0 litres of air. The wearer may cup and capture as many times as they like or as is necessary to ensure a sufficient amount of air is captured to support them afloat.

The dynamics of each capture means the captured air immediately moves upwards into storage within inverted pocket 110 and is retained in place. The air cannot escape due to the fabric welded seams 125 around the circumference of pocket 110.

When the wearer exits the water, the seal of edge 160 and the water's surface is broken, air pocket 110 will immediately deflate back to its original shape.

Alternatively, if the wearer wishes to remain in the water and wants to deflate air pocket 110, this can be achieved by the wearer lying horizontally on their back at the water surface and raising edge 160 above the water surface, thereby breaking the seal between edge 160 and the water surface. Alternatively the wearer can rotate forward and dive under the water, in effect inverting air pocket 110. The air will immediately rise out of pocket 110, deflating it instantly and returning the garment to its original shape.

It is envisaged that the wearer may remain in the water for an extended period of time, for example 24 hours or more and the inverted pocket 110 can be topped up as many times as desired or needed using the cup and capture technique.

In further embodiments the garment includes one or more gripping means along the bottom edge of the outer layer of the front section of the garment. The gripping means may be in the form of thicker fabric, a band or ridge either sewn directly into the garment, for example within the seam, or connected to the garment by adhesive, welding, doming or other known attachment techniques suitable for the material used. In one embodiment individual gripping portions such as plastic may be included and placed separately on each side of the lower edge as a gripping means for each of the left and right hands. This feature enables the user to easily grasp the correct layer of fabric in order to scoop the pocket to capture air and inflate the garment.

This also addresses the difficulty of separating the two layers of wet fabric should the garment be formed with the inner inverted pocket substantially the same size as the front of the garment. The user can easily find the gripping means located on the outer layer of the garment, then lift this correct layer to capture air within the pocket.

In still further embodiments the garment includes a weighted portion at or near the bottom edge of the outer layer of the front section of the garment. The weighted portion may be incorporated within the gripping means, which may themselves be weighted, or separate from the gripping means. The weighted portion acts to help keep the outer layer of the garment against the user's body to help retain air when floating on their back. As would be clear to a person skilled in the art, this weighted portion should only be of a weight that helps retain wet fabric in position, and should not be so heavy as to be detrimental to a user's floatation. The weighted portion preferably has a total weight of between 10-300 grams, which may change depending on the size of the garment and the wearer.

Inverted pocket 110 may alternatively or additionally be inflated by use of inflation means 150.

Inflation means 150 is located at the centre front of the garment 100 on the inner fabric of pocket 110, approximately 30-90 mm below the neckline of the garment 100. The inflation means is substantially concealed within the fabric so it is not obvious externally that the garment 100 is safety apparatus.

Preferably inflation means 150, consists of an approximate 6mm diameter PVC mouthpiece substantially one inch long at point 150 on garment 100, with a fabric tube of approximately 6 mm diameter extending from the mouthpiece at 150 to a level just slightly above edge 120.

In possible variations the mouthpiece may include a one way or two-way valve, and the fabric inflation tube may be made for a variety of other materials such as silicon or other plastic polymers. Preferably the inflation tube is formed from a flexible material such that when not in use, it remains largely unseen from the outside of the garment.

Preferably the valve/blow tube 150 as described above will be sealed in position within the fabric of inner pocket 110 using the fabric welding technique described above. In use, the wearer of garment 100 blows air directly into the said mouthpiece at 150. The valve/blow tube allows air to automatically and without restriction pass through the one inch long PVC type mouthpiece and then into the fabric tube vertically downwards to enter inner pocket 110 just above edge 120, where the air is retained within pocket 110.

Inflation means 150 can be used for inflation of inverted pocket 110 when the wearers head is above the water surface by blowing one or two regular breath directly into the 150 mouthpiece. Alternatively, if the wearer's head is under the water at any depth, any air in the wearer's mouth or lungs may be blown similarly into the 150 mouthpiece. One good mouthful of air even at a depth of approximately 2 metres or even deeper will be passed into 150 mouthpiece and down the fabric tube to above edge level 120 where the air will enter the inverted pocket 110 and the wearer will rise to the surface of the water automatically.

Should any wearer find themselves deep in the water with half air and half water in their mouth, then when the wearer blows into inflation means 150 both water and air pass through the 150 mouthpiece and vertically down the fabric tube to the level above edge 120. The air pocket 110 will retain the air (and the wearer will rise) and the water component just enters the sea/lake as the lower edge 120 of the inverted pocket 110 is open to the sea.

As above mentioned when a sole rescuer swims out to for example three swimmers in distress, if one of those swimmers were already underwater then the sole rescuer may dive down and blow one good lung full of air into 150 valve/blow tube to enable the swimmer to return to the surface and be attended to.

Inflation means 150 can be used to inflate air pocket 110 entirely, or to add additional air or top up inverted pocket 110 that has been partly inflated by the cupping and capturing the outer pocket above the water surface.

When not in the inflated position, the garment looks like any other fashionable swimming vest or rash top. Colourful and patterned to the eye. This makes the product particularly appealing to the younger generation and adults alike who may reject the wearing of safety devices because of the perceived negative “safety image” the traditional swimming aids portray.

The product is easy to use, with both young children and adults able to easily stretch the fabric of the garment to capture air into inverted pocket 110 or blow into the valve/blow tube. This makes the product attractive to a wide market such as young people wearing the garment 100 purely for swimming, to those undertaking more strenuous and potentially dangerous water activities.

The wearer of the garment may inflate and deflate the inner pocket an unlimited number of times over a prolonged period. This may occur when the wearer simply needs a rest, or when the wearer is in distress for example.

The secondary inflation in the form of the valve/blow tube provides a back-up safety means if the wearer is unable to stretch the fabric to capture air. Alternatively, the concealed valve/blow tube may provide the primary means of inflation when the front of the garment 100 is purposely made of less or non-elastic fabric.

Suitable valves/fabric blow tubes as herein described are inexpensive to manufacture.

The embodiments described herein broadly consist of the part, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Aspects of the embodiments described herein have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated there may be modifications, combinations, permutations and additions thereto without departing from the scope thereof. 

1. A garment including a neckline, a front section and a back section which collectively substantially cover a person's torso, said front section and/or back section of the garment consisting of: an outer layer, and an inner layer, the inner layer connected using a non-permeable barrier to the outer layer such that the inner layer forms a partially sealed chamber in the form of an inverted pocket.
 2. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is connected to at least a portion of the outer layer of the front section of the garment.
 3. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is connected to at least a portion of the outer layer of the front section and at least a portion of the outer layer of the back section of the garment.
 4. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is substantially the same shape as at least an upper half of the outer layer covering a person's torso.
 5. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front section outer layer of the garment is made from resilient fabric.
 6. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer layer is capable of retaining between about 0.5-9 liters of trapped air within the inverted pocket.
 7. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric is a sun protection fabric having an ultra-violet protection factor (UPF) rating of 15 or higher.
 8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the non-permeable barrier is formed using continuous or unbroken fabric welding.
 9. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment includes side seams, shoulder seams and a neckline, the inner layer being sealed to the front section of the outer layer at or near to the side seams, shoulder seams and neckline using a non-permeable barrier.
 10. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment includes side seams, shoulder seams and a neckline, the inner layer being sealed to the front section and back section of the outer layer at or near to the side seams and neckline using a non-permeable barrier.
 11. The garment as claimed claim 10, wherein the inner layer extends from the neckline to substantially at least half the distance between the neckline and a bottom edge of the outer layer of the front section or back section of the garment.
 12. The garment of claim 10, wherein the inner layer is sealed to the back section of the outer layer across the back of the garment from a first side seam to a second side seam.
 13. The garment of claim 2, wherein the garment includes one or more gripping means along the bottom edge of the outer layer of the front section of the garment.
 14. The garment of claim 2, wherein the garment includes one or more weighting means along the bottom edge of the outer layer of the front section of the garment.
 15. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment includes an electronic location device.
 16. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment includes conductive fibres throughout at least a portion of the garment.
 17. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment is fitted with at least one inflation means.
 18. The garment as claimed in claim 17, wherein the inflation means includes a one-way valve, two-way valve and/or a blow tube.
 19. The garment of claim 18, wherein the inflation means includes a mouthpiece and a flexible tube.
 20. The garment as claimed in claim 19, wherein the inflation means is mounted within the inner layer of the garment.
 21. A method of enabling a person to float in the water comprising the steps of: wearing a garment having a front section and a back section which collectively substantially cover a person's torso, said front section having an outer layer, and an inner layer, the inner layer connected using a non-permeable barrier to the outer layer such that the inner layer forms a partially sealed chamber in the form of an inverted pocket; introducing air into the partially sealed chamber, whereby the inflated partially sealed chamber enables the person to float on or above water without exertion.
 22. A wearable flotation device for a human comprising: front and back sections which collectively substantially cover a human torso; a partially sealed chamber in the form of an inverted pocket formed in at least one section, the sealed chamber comprising an outer layer, and an inner layer, the inner layer connected to the outer layer using a non-permeable barrier, whereby when air is introduced to the partially sealed chamber, the chamber inflates and enables the wearer to maintain buoyancy. 